There is something about September in Iowa that turns an ordinary weekend into a memory-making mission. The corn stalks stretch tall, the pumpkins pile up in bright orange heaps, and the smell of fresh cider donuts floats across the parking lot before you even open your car door.
I have wandered through winding mazes, cheered on duck races, and bounced on giant pillows until my legs gave out, all in the name of good old-fashioned farm fun. These 13 farms bring the best of harvest season to life, packing in slides, hayrides, sunflower fields, and pumpkins by the truckload.
Grab a comfy sweater, round up your family, and get ready to lose yourself in the tall corn. Trust me, you will want to try every single one of these spots before the leaves finish falling.
1. Center Grove Orchard, Cambridge
About 35 minutes from Des Moines, this family-owned farm flips the switch to full autumn mode the moment September rolls around.
The fall season starts in late August and stretches into early November.
Their month-long Country Celebration puts heritage front and center, with fun demonstrations like rope making and corn shelling. The sprawling corn maze carries an American farmer theme, complete with a flag and vintage tractor designs carved right into the stalks.
You can roam the 20-acre orchard, where 34 apple varieties wait to fill your basket. The Black Gold Super Slide gives thrill-seekers a rush, while little ones splash in the giant corn pool or ride the CGO Express train.
Farm animals add plenty of laughs, and there are over 40 attractions total, so no two visits feel the same. Before heading out, swing by the bakery for fresh cider and their famous apple cider slushie.
Center Grove Orchard sits in Cambridge, and it truly earns its spot as a September favorite. Come hungry, wear comfy shoes, and give yourself the whole day to explore.
2. Bloomsbury Farm, Atkins
Autumn arrives in a big way when this farm near Cedar Rapids and Iowa City throws open its gates for the Fall Festival.
The fun runs from mid-September through October, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Seventeen acres of pumpkins mean you will find exactly the right one to carry home. The 10-acre corn maze tests your sense of direction, while a smaller 4-acre kids maze keeps younger explorers grinning.
Beyond the twisting paths, more than 30 attractions welcome all ages, including hayrides that roll through the scenery. U-pick fields of zinnias, marigolds, and sunflowers make for picture-perfect fall snapshots.
For visitors craving a shiver, Scream Acres sits right next door with indoor haunts and a haunted cornfield, though that usually opens later in the season.
Bloomsbury Farm calls Atkins home, and the sheer variety here makes planning a return trip almost guaranteed. Pack your camera, bring your walking shoes, and clear the calendar for a full day of harvest happiness.
3. Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch, Cumming
Just south of Des Moines sits a sixth-generation farm that feels like a living autumn postcard once mid-September arrives. The charm hits you the second you step onto the grounds.
An old-fashioned wagon ride carries you straight to the patch, where 18 acres of pumpkins come in every size, shape, and color you can imagine. Once your gourd is chosen, the 8-acre corn maze offers a friendly challenge for the whole crew.
The Kiddie Korral playground keeps young visitors busy with duck races, a mud kitchen, a giant tube slide, pedal tractors, and wiggle cars. Through late September, you can also snip fresh flowers in the U-pick fields, while baby goat cuddling is limited to a shorter September window.
Do not skip the upper floor of the historic 1910 barn, where dried flowers hang from the rafters and hint at generations of farm history.
Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch, in Cumming, blends sweetness and history in equal measure. Slow down, wander a while, and let the little details make your day.
4. Harvestville Farm, Donnellson
Get ready for a farm packed to the brim with activity, because this fifth-generation spot in southeast Iowa claims the most agri-tainment in the state. The fall season opens in early September.
More than 30 acres grow pumpkins, squash, and gourds in over 125 varieties, so your carving and decorating options feel endless. The 12-acre corn maze changes its theme every year, and a mini maze welcomes the smallest adventurers.
Over 45 family activities fill the day. Race wiggle cars, splash into the giant corn pool, or square off in oversized Connect 4, Jenga, and Chess.
Tractor wagon rides, a bull roping station, a jumping pillow, and a pumpkin jump pad keep the energy high. September also brings special treats like a Hot Air Balloon Glow and a heartwarming Grandparents Day with half-price admission for grandparents.
Harvestville Farm in Donnellson promises a day stuffed with laughter and cherished memories. Arrive early, stay late, and try to squeeze in every last attraction before the sun sets.
5. Colony Acres Family Farm, North Liberty
While mapping out your September farm hopping across the state, circle this North Liberty spot for September 19, when its 100th fall season officially begins. A century of family farming gives the celebration an especially fitting backdrop.
The 5-acre corn maze adds games to the twists and turns, while more than 20 activities spread the fun well beyond the stalks. Giant slides, duck races, a bounce pad, barrel train, zip line, corn box, antique tractors, and giant games keep the day moving.
The award-winning U-pick pumpkin patch opens up another part of the farm, and weekend hayrack rides add the classic harvest-season touch. Flowers are available for picking too when field conditions cooperate.
The market and Sweet Shop make an easy final stop for donuts, baked goods, snacks, and fall items before you head home.
Colony Acres Family Farm turns its North Liberty location into a full September outing once the season opens. Give yourself a few hours, because the maze is only the beginning.
6. Fields of Fun, Sioux Center
Exploring the northwest corner of the state brings you to this cheerfully named farm on the outskirts of Sioux Center.
Its 2026 season is posted from September 7 through October 31, with regular hours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM.
The corn maze gives the visit its main puzzle, while a smaller Lil Sprouts maze lets younger guests join the fun at an easier pace. Pumpkin picking adds another reason to wander the grounds once fall gets rolling.
The petting zoo, corn box, and kids play area round out the free activities. Saturday visits later in September also bring seasonal extras such as hayrides, while the jump pad and barrel train add more ways to burn off energy.
Fresh treats, baked goods, vendor crafts, and coffee give everyone an excuse to linger after the maze. The rural setting keeps the whole experience pleasantly simple.
Fields of Fun makes a strong northwest Iowa September stop. Check the current calendar before leaving home, then give yourself enough time to enjoy more than just the corn.
7. Scarecrow Farm, Lawton
A short drive outside Sioux City lands you at a 30-acre playground that comes alive for Sunflower Days on September 12 and 13, 19 and 20, and 26 and 27.
The September experience has its own colorful personality before the main Fall Festival begins in October.
The 5-acre corn maze still gives visitors plenty of chances to lose their bearings, while more than 16 attractions keep the day moving. Slides, play areas, photo spots, and other farm activities fill the gaps between maze attempts.
September is especially good for the sunflower fields and U-pick raspberries. Visitors can wander through thousands of blooms, cut flowers to take home, and spend plenty of time chasing the best photo angle.
Treats such as apple cider donuts, kettle corn, and the Cherry Chiller slushie give the taste buds their turn too.
Scarecrow Farm in Lawton makes September about corn, flowers, berries, and open-air farm fun. Save the pumpkin-focused Fall Festival for October, when that part of the season officially begins.
8. Pride of the Wapsi, Long Grove
Touring the countryside north of the Quad Cities brings you to a Long Grove farm that starts its 2026 fall season on September 19.
The farm stays open Friday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM through November 1.
The corn maze, pumpkin patch, and hayrides form the traditional heart of the visit, while sunflower and zinnia fields add a bright September twist. During the early-season bloom, admission even includes a flower to take home while supplies last.
More than 40 attractions now spread across the property. The new Wapsi Railway train rides join longtime farm activities, while the new Bear Barn adds another stop for families.
The first two weekends, September 19 through 27, are designated as sunflower season, making them especially useful for anyone trying to catch flowers and fall attractions on the same trip.
Pride of the Wapsi gives eastern Iowa travelers plenty to fill an autumn afternoon. Come for the maze, then let the rest of the farm turn a quick stop into a much longer visit.
9. Bass Family Farms, Mount Vernon
A whirlwind of festivities takes over this Mount Vernon farm when the Fall Festival kicks off in mid-September and rolls on through October.
The farm stays open daily all season, brimming with genuine autumn charm.
Wandering the corn maze is a beloved tradition here, and evenings bring an extra thrill with the Flashlight Corn Maze. A smaller hay bale maze gives younger visitors their own puzzle to solve.
The wide pumpkin patch makes finding your seasonal gourd easy, while hay rack rides deliver the classic farm feeling. For high-energy fun, the Farm Frenzy Mega Slide and giant jump pad always draw a crowd.
Challenge your family to mini golf or friendly rounds of giant yard games between snacks. The specialty food store tempts everyone with apple cider donuts and refreshing ice cream.
Bass Family Farms even offers porch pumpkin installations in September and October for a festive home. Between the mazes, slides, and treats, this stop packs a full day of grins into one visit.
10. Sherman’s Pumpkin Farm & Corn Maze, Manchester
For a genuinely local fall experience, look to this Manchester farm as its 2026 season begins September 12.
General visits remain refreshingly simple, with the corn maze and pumpkin patch doing most of the heavy lifting.
The corn maze gives families a winding challenge through the stalks, while pumpkins, gourds, squash, and ornamental corn fill the farm with classic September color. Kids activities and food add more reasons to linger.
Free hayrides run on weekend afternoons as staffing allows, giving visitors an easy way to tour the property without adding another charge to the outing. September 19 also brings live music to the farm as one of the season’s scheduled special events.
The farm keeps the experience straightforward rather than loading it with elaborate extras. That simplicity works well for families who want pumpkins, a maze, a ride, and room to wander.
Sherman’s Pumpkin Farm & Corn Maze has become a Manchester fall staple for good reason. Bring the family, explore the maze, and leave some time for the pumpkin patch before heading home.
11. Kroul Farms, Mount Vernon
More than 30 years of welcoming families have shaped this working farm in Mount Vernon into a cherished autumn stop.
Wonderfully, there is no admission fee to enjoy the grounds and soak up the learning opportunities.
The 3-acre corn maze offers a delightful challenge for every age, and a smaller round-bale maze suits the youngest wanderers. As September unfolds, the farm bursts with pumpkins, gourds, mums, and corn ready for your fall decorating.
A visit to the animals, generally including kittens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, goats, cows, and chickens, turns into a fun lesson about where food comes from. Kids leave with both giggles and a little farm knowledge.
The farm store and grounds remain open throughout September, making it easy to pair the maze with fresh produce and seasonal decorations. Current regular hours run Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Friday through Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Kroul Farms stays open well beyond the first weeks of fall, so its charm lasts longer than a single weekend. Take your time, meet the animals, and enjoy an easygoing day in the country.
12. Solsma’s Punkin Patch and Fireworks, Sanborn
A budget-friendly northwest gem awaits in Sanborn, open daily from Labor Day through Halloween.
This family farm, running since 1999, charges no admission to step onto the yard and drink in the autumn air.
The 5-acre corn maze headlines the fun, sporting a brand new theme each year to keep returning visitors guessing. More than 65 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, squash, and ornamental corn line up alongside cheerful mums for all your decorating dreams.
Kids gravitate toward the corn sandbox and the assortment of yard games scattered about. The country store is a treasure chest of local delights, offering homemade apple crisp, fresh-popped Ruby Red popcorn, local honey, and artisan goods.
They even sell Nystrom fresh-picked apples, so your basket goes home fuller than expected. Everything here leans into community spirit and the joy of harvest season.
Solsma’s Punkin Patch and Fireworks has earned its place as a beloved tradition for families across the region. Come for the maze, linger for the store, and leave with your arms full of fall goodies.
13. Deal’s Orchard, Jefferson
As the leaves turn, a family-run orchard in Jefferson unveils its Apple Acres fun zone, running from late August through early November.
Spanning more than 40 acres of apples with more than 25 varieties, it makes a picture-perfect backdrop for September outings.
Action fills the day with two massive jumping pillows, thrilling giant slides, and a corn maze that switches things up from an ordinary stroll. The corn pool offers a fun sensory stop, while the human hamster wheel adds a whimsical spin.
Younger guests adore the pedal tractors, duck races, wiggle cars, and other farm activities. Come mid-September, U-pick apples are typically ready, and free weekend hayrides add another classic orchard experience.
Special events sprinkle the month with extra magic, including Sunflower Days from September 1 through 20 and Touch a Tractor on September 12 and 13. Visiting the Apple Barn and pumpkin patch is free, though the Apple Acres activities need a separate ticket for ages three and up.
Deal’s Orchard shines especially well in September, when flowers, apples, and the farm attractions overlap. Plan an early trip and savor every apple-scented moment.